Episode 1 - The Beginning
Chapter 1 - The premise
Eight months ago, the silence between them had stretched too long. Raj had been sent away for a short work assignment--just a few weeks, he'd said. But days turned into weeks, and somewhere between meetings, long flights, and endless deadlines, he forgot. Not her, never her--but the little things. A message, a quick call, a check-in. Anu waited at first, then worried, and finally, her worry hardened into quiet anger.
Tonight, Ranjit stood alone in his hotel room, fresh from a long, hot shower. The steam clung to the mirror, and the towel around his waist was the only thing grounding him in the moment. Guilt clawed at him as he looked at his phone--her name glowing on the screen. He'd just tried calling. She had cut it.
Heart racing, Ranjit typed.
"Anu... I'm so sorry. I don't know how I let this happen."
Message sent.
"I missed you every day. Work just... swallowed me. But that's not an excuse."
Another message.
"Please call me. Let me explain. I hate this distance."
He stared at the screen, waiting. Hoping. Naked in vulnerability now, more than from the shower--realizing just how much silence could hurt.